Methods and apparatus to determine sources of media presentations

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus to determine sources of media presentations are disclosed. An example method includes identifying an input source of a media device from network communications associated with a media stream and, when an audio output associated with the media device includes a valid audience measurement watermark, associating the input source with media presented by the media device.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates generally to media monitoring, and, moreparticularly, methods and apparatus to determine sources of mediapresentations.

BACKGROUND

Media providers and/or audience measurement entities (AME), such as, forexample, advertising companies, broadcast networks, etc., are ofteninterested in the viewing, listening, and/or media behaviors/interestsof audience members and/or the public in general. To collect thesebehavior/interests, an AME may enlist panelists (e.g., persons agreeingto be monitored) to cooperate in an audience measurement study for aperiod. The media usage habits of these panelists, as well asdemographic data about the panelists, are collected and used tostatistically determine the size and demographics of an audience. Inrecent years, more consumer devices have been provided with Internetconnectivity and the ability to receive streaming media from theInternet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example system that determine sources ofmedia presentations, in accordance with the teachings of thisdisclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example source detector that may be usedto implement the example system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart representing example processes that may beimplemented as machine readable instructions, which may be executed toimplement the example source detector of FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 2 to detectsources of media presentations, in accordance with the teachings of thisdisclosure.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example processor platform structured toexecute the example machine readable instructions of FIG. 3 to implementthe example source detector of FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 2.

Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughoutthe drawing(s) and accompanying written description to refer to the sameor like parts. Connecting lines or connectors shown in the variousfigures presented are intended to represent example functionalrelationships, physical couplings and/or logical couplings between thevarious elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to non-limiting examples of thisdisclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. The examples are described below by referring to the drawings.

AMEs desire to identify the source of media that is being presented by amedia device. Example media devices include a television, a personalcomputer, a laptop computer, an audio playback device, etc. Examplesources can be physical input sources (e.g., input ports, inputconnectors, etc.), which include a high-definition multimedia input(HDMI) port, a DisplayPort port, a digital audio input source, an analogaudio input source, a universal serial bus (USB) port, a digital visualinterface (DVI) port, an Ethernet interface, a wireless local areanetwork (WLAN) interface, a cellular interface, etc. Example sourcescan, additionally and/or alternatively, be virtual input sources. Forexample, media can be cast from an input device (e.g., a smartphone) toa media device over a network, on input ports, such as a multi-streamtransport of DisplayPort port, that support multiple simultaneous mediastreams, etc. In some examples, media devices are implemented and/orinstrumented with an on-device meter that monitors operations of themedia device (e.g., to determine what media is presented (e.g., played,displayed, output, etc.) by the media device, what input source isactive, when the media is presented, etc.). However, not all mediadevices are amenable to being monitored by an on-device meter. Forexample, some media devices do not allow installation of third-partysoftware (e.g., an on-device meter). Further, because of the many typesof media devices available, maintaining software packages for every typeof media device is difficult. Because installation of a monitoringsystem on all types of media devices may be difficult, some networkedmedia devices may go unmonitored.

In examples disclosed herein, network communications to/from an inputdevice can be used to identify the media stream that is being streamedto a media device associated with the input device. For example, networkcommunications can be used to identify that a video game console coupledto a television is receiving streaming video for presentation at thetelevision. Example input devices include set-top boxes, video gameconsoles (e.g., Xbox®, PlayStation®), digital media players (e.g., aRoku® media player, a Slingbox®, Apple TV®, Amazon Fire™, GoogleChromecast™, etc.), tablet computers, smartphones, personal computers,laptop computers, Chromebook™ computers, etc.

As will be described herein, using information associating input deviceswith input sources of a media device (e.g., a television), an inputsource (e.g., HDMI port 2) of the media device can be determined byidentifying the input device (e.g., a video game console) and thestreaming video. However, because the media device may, for example, notbe turned on, may be set to a different input source, etc., the mediadevice may not actually be presenting the streaming video. Thus, in someexamples disclosed herein, an audio output associated with the mediadevice (e.g., a speaker of the media device, a sound system coupled tothe media device, etc.) is monitored to determine whether the mediastream is being presented (e.g., output, displayed, played, etc.) at themedia device. If a valid audience measurement watermark is identified inthe audio output and, in some examples, also match the media streambeing received by the input device (e.g., a video game console), thenpresentation of the media stream at the media device (e.g., atelevision) can be associated with the input source (e.g., HDMI port 2)identified using the network communications. In some examples, audiencemeasurement watermarks, such as those developed by The Nielsen Company(US), LLC (the assignee of the present application), are used toidentify the media being presented at the media device.

In some examples, the term “media” includes any type of content and/oradvertisements, such as television programming, radio programming,music, news, movies, web sites, etc. In some examples, the term “mediastream” refers to a plurality of network communications (e.g., Internetprotocol (IP) packets), normally transmitted in an ordered sequence,that convey media from a source to a destination. In some examples,identifications of input devices, media devices and input sources arecollected at audience measurement locations (e.g., homes, offices, etc.)and aggregated to determine ownership and/or usage statistics ofavailable media devices, usage statistics of available input sources,relative rankings of usage and/or ownership of media devices, types ofuses of media devices (e.g., whether a device is used for browsing theInternet, streaming media from the Internet, etc.), exposures to media(e.g., how many people watched a particular video), and/or other typesof media device information.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example system 100 todetermine input sources associated with media presentations. The examplesystem 100 of FIG. 1 includes, at least in part, an example networkactivity measurement system 102, an example network communicationmonitor 104, and an example meter 106. The example networkcommunications monitor 104 and the example meter 106 of FIG. 1 arelocated at an audience measurement location 108, such as a home, anoffice, etc. The example network activity measurement system 102 may beoperated by, for example, an AME, such as The Nielsen Company (US), LLC.The network activity measurement system 102 is communicatively coupledto the audience measurement location 108 via a wide area network (WAN),such as the Internet 110. Electronic devices at the audience measurementlocation 108, such as the network communications monitor 104 arecommunicatively coupled to the Internet 110 via, for example, an exampleresidential gateway 112, a modem, a WAN-to-LAN bridge, etc. An examplelocal network 114, including any combination of one or more local areanetworks (LANs) and/or WLANs, communicatively couples electronic devicesat the audience measurement location 108 to each other and/or to theInternet 110 via the residential gateway 112.

The example audience measurement location 108 of FIG. 1 includes anexample media device 116 in the form of an example television 116, andthree input devices 118, 119 and 120 of the media device 116 in the formof an example set-top box 118, an example media player box 119 and anexample video game console 120. Using respective network interfaces (notshown for clarity of illustration), the input devices 118-120, and, insome examples, the media device 116 are communicatively coupled to eachother and/or the Internet 110 via the local network 114 and theresidential gateway 112. In the example system 100 of FIG. 1, the inputdevice 118 is communicatively coupled to HDMI port 1 of the media device116. However, the examples disclosed herein can be used to determineinput sources for audience measurement locations having any numberand/or type(s) of media devices and/or inputs devices in addition to,and/or instead of those shown in FIG. 1. In some examples, the mediadevice 116 has input sources 117 that are not associated with streamingvideo, such as a cable television input, a terrestrial cable televisioninput, etc.

In some examples, the input devices 118-120 request media from anexample media provider 122 via the Internet 110. The media provider 122may, additionally and/or alternatively, be available on a private and/orsemi-private network, such as the local network 114. In some examples,the request for media is a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request, aHypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) request, a Session InitiationProtocol (SIP) message, a domain name service (DNS) query, a filetransfer protocol (FTP) request, and/or any other type of request formedia (e.g., content and/or advertisements).

The example media provider 122 of the illustrated example of FIG. 1provides media (e.g., web pages, videos, music, images, advertisements,etc.). The media provider 122 may be implemented by any provider(s) ofmedia such as a digital broadcast provider (e.g., a cable televisionservice, a satellite television service, a terrestrial televisionservice, a fiber-optic television service, etc.) and/or an on-demanddigital media provider (e.g., Internet streaming video and/or audioservices such as Netflix®, YouTube®, Hulu®, Pandora®, Last.fm®, Amazon®,TuneIn, etc.), and/or any other provider of media services (e.g.,streaming media services). In some other examples, the media provider122 is a host for a web site(s).

In some examples, the example network communications monitor 104 of FIG.1 is provided to a panelist, and/or otherwise delivered to the audiencemeasurement location 108, and is connected to the local network 114. Theexample network communications monitor 104 monitors networkcommunications occurring on and/or involving the local network 114. Insome examples, the example residential gateway 112, or another networkdevice coupled to the local network 114, permits custom firmware and/orsoftware to be loaded and/or executed. In some such examples, theresidential gateway 112 may be provided with firmware and/or software toimplement the network communications monitor 104 (in whole or in part).In such examples, in addition to known routing and/or modem behavior,the custom firmware and/or software monitors network communicationsdirected from the media device 116 and/or the input devices 118-120 tothe Internet 110, and/or directed from the Internet 110 to the mediadevice 116 and/or the input devices 118-120.

In some examples, the network activity measurement system 102 receives alist of media devices and input devices present in the audiencemeasurement location 108 when a panelist enrolls in a panel. In someexamples, the list of device names may be provided later, and/or may besubsequently updated. In some examples, additional information abouteach listed device is provided, such as, for example, a device name, aprimary user of the device, a location of the device, the inputsource(s) to which the device is connected, etc. In some examplesdisclosed herein, device names are used to identify devices. Devices maybe associated with a panelist and/or a household, and may have a devicename (e.g., “Suzie's iPad”, “Smith Family iPad 01”, etc.) to facilitateidentification of the media device to the panelist and/or an installer(e.g., a representative of an AME). Additionally, and/or alternatively,the panelist and/or installer may name their devices to provide someadditional properties about the devices. For example, the panelistand/or installer may identify information concerning a location of adevice within the panelist household (e.g., in the living room, in thebasement, etc.), a primary user of the device, a manufacturer of thedevice, etc. In some examples, a mapping of device names to MACaddresses of the devices is made by an installer and/or by a user of thedevices during a mapping procedure. However, any other party may providedevice names and/or associate the device name with MAC addresses of thedevices during any other procedure.

In some examples, the example network communications monitor 104retrieves or receives the list of device names from the network activitymeasurement system 102, and scans the local network 114 to identify thehardware addresses (e.g., MAC addresses) of the listed devices. In someexamples, the example network communications monitor 104 reports themappings of hardware addresses to device names to the network activitymeasurement system 102.

The example network communications monitor 104 of FIG. 1 monitors thelocal network 114 for communications that are indicative of mediapresentations occurring in the audience measurement location 108. Theexample network communications monitor 104 reports the networkcommunications monitored on the local network 114 to the networkactivity measurement system 102. The example network activitymeasurement system 102 uses the reported network communications and themapping of hardware addresses to device names, to prepare media exposuremeasurement reports.

In some examples, the network communications monitor 104 of theillustrated example identifies network communications to/from the mediadevice 116 and/or the input device(s) 118-120 within the exampleaudience measurement location 108. In some examples, the networkcommunications monitor 104 creates a record (e.g., a log) identifyingwhich of the media device 116 and/or the input device(s) 118-120 wereinvolved in which of the network communications, and transmits therecord to the network activity measurement system 102. In some examples,the network communications monitor 104 determines which of the mediadevice 116 or an input device 118-120 was involved in the networkcommunications by inspecting the network communications received at thenetwork communications monitor 104 for indicia that identify the mediadevice 116 and/or the input devices 118-120, and/or may facilitateidentification of the media device 116 or the input device 118-120. Forexample, a network address (e.g., an IP address) associated with thenetwork communications may be used to lookup a MAC address of the mediadevice 116 or the input device 118-120 via an address resolutionprotocol (ARP) table. In some examples, network communications areprovided by the network communications monitor 104 to the networkactivity measurement system 102, and the network activity measurementsystem 102 identifies the MAC address of the media device 116 or theinput device 118-120. In some examples, the network communications canbe examined to identify that the network communications represent mediastreaming. For example, a uniform resource locator (URL) in a requestcan be used to identify that streaming media was requested.

Example methods and apparatus to identify devices on a network (e.g.,the media device 116 and the input devices 118-120 on the local network114) are disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/337,902,entitled “Systems, Methods and Apparatus to Facilitate Mapping a DeviceName to a Hardware Address,” and filed on Oct. 28, 2016; andInternational Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US14/34820, entitled“Systems, Methods and Apparatus to Identify Media Devices,” and filed onApr. 21, 2014. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/337,902, andInternational Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US14/34820 are herebyincorporated herein in their entirety.

To identify input sources of media devices associated with an incomingmedia stream, the example network activity measurement system 102includes an example source detector 124. The example source detector 124of FIG. 1 uses the MAC address together with the list of devicesprovided by, for example, a panelist or an installer to obtain thedevice name for the device having the identified MAC address, and theinput source(s) to which the identified device is connected. Forinstance, an IP address included in network communications for an inputdevice (e.g., the input device 118) is used to obtain the MAC address ofthe input device, and the MAC address is used to obtain the name of theinput device (e.g., “set-top box”) and to determine that the inputdevice is connected to the input source HDMI 1 of a media device (e.g.,the television 116). As will be disclosed below, the example sourcedetector 124 of FIG. 1 uses information obtained by the example meter106 to validate that media being streamed to the identified input sourceis being presented at the associated media device.

In some examples, the log and/or records of the network communicationsare transferred electronically (e.g., via the local network 114, via theInternet 110, via a USB interface, via a near field communication (NFC)interface, via a Bluetooth interface, etc.), physically transferred(e.g., a log stored on a memory device such as, for example, a flashmemory, a compact disc (CD), a digital versatile disk (DVD), etc.), etc.

The network activity measurement system 102 of the illustrated exampleincludes a server 126 that receives network communications collected bythe network communications monitor 104 to generate media monitoringinformation. The example server 126 of the network activity measurementsystem 102 of FIG. 1 analyzes the network communications across multiplemeasurement locations, such as the example audience measurement location108, to identify, for example, which media devices and input devices arethe most owned, the most-frequently used, the least-frequently owned,the least-frequently used, the most/least-frequently used for particulartype(s) and/or genre(s) of media, and/or any other media statistics oraggregate information that may be determined from the data. The mediadevice information may also be correlated or processed with factors suchas geodemographic data (e.g., a geographic location of the mediaexposure measurement location, age(s) of the panelist(s) associated withthe media exposure measurement location, an income level of a panelist,etc.) Media device information may be useful to manufacturers and/oradvertisers to determine which features should be improved, determinewhich features are popular among users, identify geodemographic trends,occurrence(s) related to and/or behaviors of (e.g., demographic group(s)in physical geographic area(s) (e.g., North America, Southeastern U.S.,etc.)) with respect to media devices, identify market opportunities,and/or otherwise evaluate their own and/or their competitors' products.In some examples, the network activity measurement system 102 is acentral measurement system that receives and/or aggregates monitoringinformation collected at multiple different measurement sites.

In some examples, input source information determined by the examplesource detector 124 is associated with media monitoring information to,for example, enable manufacturers to analyze the usage, type(s) and/ornumber(s) of input sources in use for different media devices,demographics, geographic location, etc.

Turning to the example meter 106, some AMEs, such as The Nielsen Company(US), LLC and/or other businesses, insert indiscernible (e.g., humanlyinaudible, humanly imperceptible, etc.) watermark codes into mediasignals (e.g., the audio portion of a media stream). Example watermarkcodes identify media source, title, times, etc. In some examples, thewatermark codes are inserted using critical band encoding technology(CBET) or enhanced CBET developed by The Nielsen Company (US), LLC.

The example meter 106 of FIG. 1 records watermarks detected in the audioportion of media streams, and/or records the portion(s) of the audioportion containing watermarks for subsequent transfer to the exampleserver 126. The server 126 decodes the watermarks to measure exposure ofa panelist to media signals, and determines audience exposure statisticsbased on the decoded watermarks. The recorded watermarks or audioportion(s) may be transferred electronically (e.g., via the localnetwork 114, via the Internet 110, via a USB interface, via a near fieldcommunication (NFC) interface, a Bluetooth interface, etc.), physicallytransferred (e.g., a log stored on a memory device such as, for example,a flash memory, a CD, a DVD, etc.), etc.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example source detector 200 that may beused to implement the example source detector 124 of FIG. 1. To collectdata, the example source detector 200 includes an example data collector202. The example data collector 202 of FIG. 2 collects, from the networkcommunications monitor 104, the MAC address(es) associated with a mediastream, and also decoded watermark codes from the server 126, using anynumber and/or type(s) of interfaces, methods, etc.

To identify the device name associated with a MAC address, the examplesource detector 200 includes an example device name determiner 204. Theexample device name determiner 204 of FIG. 2 queries an example list ofdevices table 206, using the MAC address collected by the example datacollector 202, to determine the name for the input device having theidentified MAC address. The list of devices 206 includes the list ofmedia devices and input devices and associated MAC addresses providedby, for example, a panelist or installer at enrollment, installation, atupdate, etc. The list of devices 206 may be implemented using any numberand/or type(s) of data structures, and may be stored on any numberand/or type(s) of machine readable storage media.

To identify the input source of a media device associated with the inputdevice, the example source detector 200 includes an example input sourcedeterminer 208. The example source detector 200 of FIG. 2 queries thelist of devices table 206 using the MAC address and/or identified devicename to determine the input source of the media device to which theidentified input device is connected.

To verify the audio output of a media device is associated with a mediastream, the example source detector 200 includes an example mediavalidator 210. The example media validator 210 examines the decodedwatermarks collected from the server 126 to determine whether validwatermarks are found and, in some examples, also match the media streamassociated with the identified. input device

To validate the input source as associated with the media beingpresented by the media device, the example source detector 200 includesan example source validator 212. The example source validator 212 ofFIG. 2 identifies the identified input source as valid when the decodedwatermarks are associated with the media streaming to the identifiedinput device, and indicates to the server 126 that the input source isassociated with the media stream presented by the media deviceassociated with the identified input device. Otherwise, the sourcevalidator 212 indicates to the server 126 that the input source is notassociated with the media stream.

While an example manner of implementing the source detector 124 of FIG.1 is illustrated in FIG. 2, one or more of the elements, processesand/or devices illustrated in FIG. 2 may be combined, divided,re-arranged, omitted, eliminated and/or implemented in any other way.Further, the example data collector 202, the example device namedeterminer 204, the example list of devices table 206, the example inputsource determiner 208, the example media validator 210, the examplesource validator 212, and/or, more generally, the example sourcedetector 124 of FIG. 1 may be implemented by hardware, software,firmware and/or any combination of hardware, software and/or firmware.Thus, for example, any of the example data collector 202, the exampledevice name determiner 204, the example list of devices table 206, theexample input source determiner 208, the example media validator 210,the example source validator 212, and/or, more generally, the examplesource detector 124 could be implemented by one or more analog ordigital circuit(s), logic circuits, programmable processor(s),programmable controller(s), graphics processing unit(s) (GPU(s)),digital signal processor(s) (DSP(s)), application specific integratedcircuit(s) (ASIC(s)), programmable logic device(s) (PLD(s)) and/or fieldprogrammable logic device(s) (FPLD(s)). When reading any of theapparatus or system claims of this patent to cover a purely softwareand/or firmware implementation, at least one of the example datacollector 202, the example device name determiner 204, the example listof devices table 206, the example input source determiner 208, and theexample media validator 210 is/are hereby expressly defined to include anon-transitory computer readable storage device or storage disk such asa memory, a DVD, a CD, a Blu-ray disk, etc. including the softwareand/or firmware. Further still, the example source detector 124 of FIG.1 may include one or more elements, processes and/or devices in additionto, and/or instead of, those illustrated in FIG. 2, and/or may includemore than one of any or all the illustrated elements, processes anddevices.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart representative of example machine readableinstructions for implementing the source detector 124 of FIG. 1 and/orthe example source detector 200 of FIG. 2 is shown in FIG. 3. In thisexample, the machine readable instructions comprise a program forexecution by a processor such as the processor 410 shown in the exampleprocessor platform 400 discussed below in connection with FIG. 4. Theprogram may be embodied in software stored on a non-transitory computerreadable storage medium such as a CD, a floppy disk, a hard drive, aDVD, a Blu-ray disk, or a memory associated with the processor 410, butthe entire program and/or parts thereof could alternatively be executedby a device other than the processor 410 and/or embodied in firmware ordedicated hardware. Further, although the example program is describedwith reference to the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 3, many othermethods of implementing the example source detector 124 and the examplesource detector 200 may alternatively be used. For example, the order ofexecution of the blocks may be changed, and/or some of the blocksdescribed may be changed, eliminated, or combined. Additionally, and/oralternatively, any or all the blocks may be implemented by one or morehardware circuits (e.g., discrete and/or integrated analog and/ordigital circuitry, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an ASIC, acomparator, an operational-amplifier (op-amp), a logic circuit, etc.)structured to perform the corresponding operation without executingsoftware or firmware.

As mentioned above, the example program of FIG. 3 may be implementedusing coded instructions (e.g., computer and/or machine readableinstructions) stored on a non-transitory computer and/or machinereadable medium such as a hard disk drive, a flash memory, a read-onlymemory, a CD, a DVD, a Blu-ray disk, a cache, a random-access memoryand/or any other storage device or storage disk in which information isstored for any duration (e.g., for extended time periods, permanently,for brief instances, for temporarily buffering, and/or for caching ofthe information). As used herein, the term non-transitory computerreadable medium is expressly defined to include any type of computerreadable storage device and/or storage disk, to exclude propagatingsignals, and to exclude transmission media.

“Including” and “comprising” (and all forms and tenses thereof) are usedherein to be open ended terms. Thus, whenever a claim lists anythingfollowing any form of “include” or “comprise” (e.g., comprises,includes, comprising, including, etc.), it is to be understood thatadditional elements, terms, etc. may be present without falling outsidethe scope of the corresponding claim. As used herein, when the phrase“at least” is used as the transition term in a preamble of a claim, itis open-ended in the same manner as the term “comprising” and“including” are open ended. Conjunctions such as “and,” “or,” and“and/or” are inclusive unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.For example, “A and/or B” includes A alone, B alone, and A with B.

The example program of FIG. 3 includes the example networkcommunications monitor 104 determining whether there is a media stream(block 302). If there is a media stream (block 300), the example datacollector 202 obtains the hardware address (e.g., a MAC address) of aninput device receiving the detected media stream (block 304). In someexamples, the data collector 202 also obtains the watermarks (if any)recorded for audio portions of media being presented at a media deviceassociated with the input device (block 306). If the example mediavalidator 210 determines that valid watermarks are found and, in someexamples, also match the media stream being received by the input device(block 308), the example device name determiner 204 and the exampleinput source determiner 208 map the input device to an input source ofthe media device (block 310). For example, the device name determiner204 maps the hardware address to a name of the input device, and theinput source determiner 208 maps the name of the input device with theinput source of the media device connected to the input device. In someexamples, the input source is determined based on the hardware address.The example source validator 212 associates the identified input sourcewith the media presentation at the media device (block 312). Controlreturns to block 304 receive another hardware address.

Returning to block 308, if the media validator 210 does not identifyvalid watermarks in the audio output of the media device (block 308),the input source associated with the identified input device is not usedfor input source determination.

Returning to block 302, if the network communications monitor 104 doesnot detect a media stream (block 302), the example data collector 202obtains the watermarks (if any) recorded for audio portions of mediabeing presented at a media device (block 314). If the media validator210 identifies that the watermarks are valid (block 316), the examplesource validator 312 associates the media being presented at the mediawith a non-streaming input source (e.g., an antenna port, a CD playerconnected to an HDMI port, etc.) of the media device (block 318).

In some examples, the example process(es) of FIG. 3 are repeated duringthe presentation of a media stream to detection conditions whenpresentation of the media stream has ceased, been paused, been rewound,been advanced, etc. For example, the media device has been turned off,input source selection has changed, etc.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example processor platform 400structured to execute the instructions of FIG. 3 to implement the sourcedetector 124 of FIG. 1 and/or the example source detector 200 of FIG. 2.The processor platform 400 can be, for example, a server, a personalcomputer, a mobile device (e.g., a cell phone, a smart phone, a tabletsuch as an iPad®), a personal digital assistant (PDA), an Internetappliance, a DVD player, a CD player, a digital video recorder, aBlu-ray player, a gaming console, a personal video recorder, a set-topbox, or any other type of computing device.

The processor platform 400 of the illustrated example includes aprocessor 410. The processor 410 of the illustrated example is hardware.For example, the processor 410 can be implemented by one or moreintegrated circuits, logic circuits, microprocessors, GPUs, DSPs orcontrollers from any desired family or manufacturer. The hardwareprocessor may be a semiconductor based (e.g., silicon based) device. Inthis example, the processor implements the example data collector 202,the example device name determiner 204, the example input sourcedeterminer 208, the example media validator 210, and the example sourcevalidator 212.

The processor 410 of the illustrated example includes a local memory 412(e.g., a cache). The processor 410 of the illustrated example is incommunication with a main memory including a volatile memory 414 and anon-volatile memory 416 via a bus 418. The volatile memory 414 may beimplemented by Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), DynamicRandom Access Memory (DRAM), RAMBUS® Dynamic Random Access Memory(RDRAM®) and/or any other type of random access memory device. Thenon-volatile memory 416 may be implemented by flash memory and/or anyother desired type of memory device. Access to the main memory 414, 416is controlled by a memory controller. In this example, the example localmemory 412 stores the example list of devices table 206. However, thelist of devices 206 may also be stored in, for example, the volatilememory 414 and/or the non-volatile memory 416.

The processor platform 400 of the illustrated example also includes aninterface circuit 420. The interface circuit 420 may be implemented byany type of interface standard, such as an Ethernet interface, auniversal serial bus (USB) interface, a Bluetooth® interface, a nearfield communication (NFC) interface, and/or a peripheral componentinterface (PCI) express interface.

In the illustrated example, one or more input devices 422 are connectedto the interface circuit 420. The input device(s) 422 permit(s) a userto enter data and/or commands into the processor 410. The inputdevice(s) can be implemented by, for example, an audio sensor, amicrophone, a camera (still or video), a keyboard, a button, a mouse, atouchscreen, a track-pad, a trackball, isopoint and/or a voicerecognition system.

One or more output devices 424 are also connected to the interfacecircuit 420 of the illustrated example. The output devices 424 can beimplemented, for example, by display devices (e.g., a light emittingdiode (LED), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a liquid crystaldisplay, a cathode ray tube display (CRT), a touchscreen, etc.), atactile output device, a printer and/or a speaker. The interface circuit420 of the illustrated example, thus, typically includes a graphicsdriver card, a graphics driver chip and/or a graphics driver processor.

The interface circuit 420 of the illustrated example also includes acommunication device such as a transmitter, a receiver, a transceiver, amodem and/or network interface to facilitate exchange of data withexternal machines (e.g., computing devices of any kind) via a network426 (e.g., an Ethernet connection, a digital subscriber line (DSL), atelephone line, a coaxial cable, a cellular telephone system, etc.).

The processor platform 400 of the illustrated example also includes oneor more mass storage devices 428 for storing software and/or data.Examples of such mass storage devices 428 include floppy disk drives,hard drive disks, CD drives, Blu-ray disk drives, redundant array ofindependent disks (RAID) systems, and DVD drives.

Coded instructions 432 including the coded instructions of FIG. 3 may bestored in the mass storage device 428, in the volatile memory 414, inthe non-volatile memory 416, and/or on a removable tangible computerreadable storage medium such as a CD or DVD.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that example methods andapparatus have been disclosed that determine input sources associatedwith media exposures. Further examples and combinations thereof includeat least the following:

Example 1 is a method to determine an input source associated with amedia presentation, the method including identifying, by executing aninstruction with a processor, an input source of a media device fromnetwork communications associated with a media stream, and when an audiooutput associated with the media device includes a valid audiencemeasurement watermark, associating, by executing an instruction with theprocessor, the input source with media presented by the media device.

Example 2 is the method of example 1, further including determiningwhether the valid audience measurement watermark is associated with themedia stream, and associating the input source with the media presentedby media device when the valid audience measurement watermark isdetermined to be associated with the media stream.

Example 3 is the method of example 1 or 2, further including associatingthe media presentation at the media device with a non-streaming inputsource when the audio output does not include the valid audiencemeasurement watermark.

Example 4 is the method of any of examples 1 to 3, further includingobtaining a hardware address of an input device, and obtaining theaudience measurement watermark, wherein the hardware address and theaudience measurement watermark are received from different devices at anaudience measurement location.

Example 5 is the method of example 4, wherein identifying the inputsource of the media device includes identifying the input device basedon the hardware address, and identifying the input source of the mediadevice based on the input device.

Example 6 is the method of example 4, wherein the hardware address isidentified based on the network communications.

Example 7 is the method of any of examples 1 to 6, wherein the inputsource includes at least one of a high-definition multimedia input(HDMI) port, a DisplayPort port, a digital audio input source, an analogaudio input source, a universal serial bus (USB) port, a digital visualinterface (DVI), an Ethernet interface, a wireless local area network(WLAN) interface.

Example 8 is the method of any of examples 1 to 7, wherein the mediadevice includes at least one of a television, a computer monitor, alaptop computer, a tablet, an audio playback device, or a smartphone topresent the media stream.

Example 9 is an apparatus to determine an input source associated with amedia presentation including an input source determiner to identify aninput source of a media device from network communications associatedwith a media stream, a media validator to identify whether an audiooutput associated with the media device includes a valid audiencemeasurement watermark, and a source validator to associate the inputsource with media presented by the media device when the media validatoridentifies the valid audience measurement watermark.

Example 10 is the apparatus of example 9, wherein the media validatordetermines whether the valid audience measurement watermark isassociated with the media stream, and the source validator associatesthe input source with the media presented by media device when the validaudience measurement watermark is determined to be associated with themedia stream.

Example 11 is the apparatus of example 9 or 10, wherein the sourcevalidator associates the media presentation at the media device with anon-streaming input source when the media stream is not detected.

Example 12 is the apparatus of any of examples 9 to 11, furtherincluding a data collector to obtain a hardware address of an inputdevice, and the audience measurement watermark.

Example 13 is the apparatus of example 12, wherein the input sourcedeterminer identifies the input source of the media device byidentifying the input device based on the hardware address, andidentifying the input source of the media device based on the inputdevice, wherein the hardware address is identified based on the networkcommunications.

Example 14 is the apparatus of any of examples 9 to 13, wherein theinput source includes at least one of a high-definition multimedia input(HDMI) port, a DisplayPort port, a digital audio input source, an analogaudio input source, a universal serial bus (USB) port, a digital visualinterface (DVI), an Ethernet interface, a wireless local area network(WLAN) interface.

Example 15 is the apparatus of any of examples 9 to 14, wherein themedia device includes at least one of a television, a computer monitor,a laptop computer, a tablet, an audio playback device, or a smartphoneto present the media stream.

Example 16 is a non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumcomprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to performat least identifying an input source of a media device from networkcommunications associated with a media stream, and when an audio outputassociated with the media device includes a valid audience measurementwatermark, associating the input source with media presented by themedia device.

Example 17 is the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium ofexample 16, including further instructions that, when executed, causethe machine to perform determining whether the valid audiencemeasurement watermark is associated with the media stream, andassociating the input source with the media presented by media devicewhen the valid audience measurement watermark is determined to beassociated with the media stream.

Example 18 is the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of anyof examples 16 or 17, including further instructions that, whenexecuted, cause the machine to perform associating the mediapresentation at the media device with a non-streaming input source whenthe audio output does not include the valid audience measurementwatermark.

Example 19 is the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of anyof examples 16 to 18, including further instructions that, whenexecuted, cause the machine to perform obtaining a hardware address ofan input device, and obtaining the audience measurement watermark,wherein the hardware address and the audience measurement watermark arereceived from different devices at an audience measurement location.

Example 20 is the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium ofexample 19, including further instructions that, when executed, causethe machine to perform identifying the input source of the media deviceby identifying the input device based on the hardware address, andidentifying the input source of the media device based on the inputdevice.

Example 21 is the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium ofexample 19, wherein the hardware address is identified based on thenetwork communications.

Example 22 is the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of anyof examples 16 to 21, wherein the input source includes at least one ofa high-definition multimedia input (HDMI) port, a DisplayPort port, adigital audio input source, an analog audio input source, a universalserial bus (USB) port, a digital visual interface (DVI), an Ethernetinterface, a wireless local area network (WLAN) interface.

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, whereinthe media device includes at least one of a television, a computermonitor, a laptop computer, a tablet, an audio playback device, or asmartphone to present the media stream.

Any references, including publications, patent applications, andpatents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the sameextent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicatedto be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entiretyherein.

Although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacturehave been disclosed herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is notlimited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods,apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope ofthe claims of this patent.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method to determine an input source associatedwith a media presentation, the method comprising: identifying, byexecuting an instruction with a processor, an input source of a mediadevice from network communications associated with a media stream; andwhen an audio output associated with the media device includes a validaudience measurement watermark, associating, by executing an instructionwith the processor, the input source with media presented by the mediadevice.
 2. The method of claim 1, further including: determining whetherthe valid audience measurement watermark is associated with the mediastream; and associating the input source with the media presented bymedia device when the valid audience measurement watermark is determinedto be associated with the media stream.
 3. The method of claim 1,further including associating the media presentation at the media devicewith a non-streaming input source when the audio output does not includethe valid audience measurement watermark.
 4. The method of claim 1,further including: obtaining a hardware address of an input device; andobtaining the audience measurement watermark, wherein the hardwareaddress and the audience measurement watermark are received fromdifferent devices at an audience measurement location.
 5. The method ofclaim 4, wherein identifying the input source of the media deviceincludes: identifying the input device based on the hardware address;and identifying the input source of the media device based on the inputdevice.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein the hardware address isidentified based on the network communications.
 7. The method of claim1, wherein the input source includes at least one of a high-definitionmultimedia input (HDMI) port, a DisplayPort port, a digital audio inputsource, an analog audio input source, a universal serial bus (USB) port,a digital visual interface (DVI), an Ethernet interface, a wirelesslocal area network (WLAN) interface.
 8. The method of claim 1, whereinthe media device includes at least one of a television, a computermonitor, a laptop computer, a tablet, an audio playback device, or asmartphone to present the media stream.
 9. An apparatus to determine aninput source associated with a media presentation, the apparatuscomprising: an input source determiner to identify an input source of amedia device from network communications associated with a media stream;a media validator to identify whether an audio output associated withthe media device includes a valid audience measurement watermark; and asource validator to associate the input source with media presented bythe media device when the media validator identifies the valid audiencemeasurement watermark.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein: the mediavalidator determines whether the valid audience measurement watermark isassociated with the media stream; and the source validator associatesthe input source with the media presented by media device when the validaudience measurement watermark is determined to be associated with themedia stream.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the source validatorassociates the media presentation at the media device with anon-streaming input source when the media stream is not detected. 12.The apparatus of claim 9, further including a data collector to obtain ahardware address of an input device, and the audience measurementwatermark.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the input sourcedeterminer identifies the input source of the media device by:identifying the input device based on the hardware address; andidentifying the input source of the media device based on the inputdevice, wherein the hardware address is identified based on the networkcommunications.
 14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the input sourceincludes at least one of a high-definition multimedia input (HDMI) port,a DisplayPort port, a digital audio input source, an analog audio inputsource, a universal serial bus (USB) port, a digital visual interface(DVI), an Ethernet interface, a wireless local area network (WLAN)interface.
 15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the media deviceincludes at least one of a television, a computer monitor, a laptopcomputer, a tablet, an audio playback device, or a smartphone to presentthe media stream.
 16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumcomprising instructions that, when executed, cause a machine to performat least: identifying an input source of a media device from networkcommunications associated with a media stream; and when an audio outputassociated with the media device includes a valid audience measurementwatermark, associating the input source with media presented by themedia device.
 17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 16, including further instructions that, when executed, cause themachine to perform: determining whether the valid audience measurementwatermark is associated with the media stream; and associating the inputsource with the media presented by media device when the valid audiencemeasurement watermark is determined to be associated with the mediastream.
 18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim16, including further instructions that, when executed, cause themachine to perform associating the media presentation at the mediadevice with a non-streaming input source when the audio output does notinclude the valid audience measurement watermark.
 19. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 16, including furtherinstructions that, when executed, cause the machine to perform:obtaining a hardware address of an input device; and obtaining theaudience measurement watermark, wherein the hardware address and theaudience measurement watermark are received from different devices at anaudience measurement location.
 20. The non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium of claim 19, including further instructions that, whenexecuted, cause the machine to perform identifying the input source ofthe media device by: identifying the input device based on the hardwareaddress; and identifying the input source of the media device based onthe input device.
 21. The non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium of claim 19, wherein the hardware address is identified based onthe network communications.
 22. The non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium of claim 16, wherein the input source includes at leastone of a high-definition multimedia input (HDMI) port, a DisplayPortport, a digital audio input source, an analog audio input source, auniversal serial bus (USB) port, a digital visual interface (DVI), anEthernet interface, a wireless local area network (WLAN) interface. 23.The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, whereinthe media device includes at least one of a television, a computermonitor, a laptop computer, a tablet, an audio playback device, or asmartphone to present the media stream.